Director / Executive / Project Manager

The Gouda City Hall Foundation is seeking an executive director who has the courage and vision to transform an iconic monument into the vibrant heart of the city. We are looking for a socially engaged individual with a healthy dose of cultural entrepreneurship, who will build a sustainable organization that connects residents, visitors, and partners, thereby creating a contemporary museum-style gathering place of national stature.

About Gouda and its City Hall

Gouda is a historic city in South Holland, centrally located between Utrecht, Rotterdam, and The Hague. The municipality will have approximately 76,500 residents by 2025. Gouda is forward-thinking and socially engaged. The city is working toward an inclusive society centered on tolerance and connection. By 2030, Gouda aims to be a city where generations, cultures, perspectives, and vulnerable groups are brought together. This involves strong social ambitions: Gouda as a city of tolerance and encounters, a city that innovates based on its history, a city that has something to offer young people, and a city that serves as a hub and meeting place. These ambitions form the social context in which the renovated city hall, as a unifying meeting place, contributes to the sustainable development of Gouda.

Gouda’s iconic City Hall will be restored, made more sustainable, and redesigned in the coming years. This historic building, located in the heart of the Markt, is one of the most beautiful city halls in the Netherlands. The goal of the redevelopment is to transform the city hall into a place where every resident and visitor to Gouda feels welcome, at home, and part of the community. The renovated city hall plays a central role within the city and serves as a link between the neighborhoods and the historic center. Due to its long history and status as a national monument, the building is a cultural icon that should be on every visitor’s list when visiting Gouda. Additionally, it forms part of the cultural-historical axis that connects Gouda’s most important heritage sites. The new concept is centered on “living together with a unique spirit,” inspired by the inscription above the town hall’s entrance:“audite et alteram partem” –listen to the other side as well.

The town hall will soon combine three functions:

Inspire

The town hall tells the story of community life in the past, present, and future. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and interactive installations, the theme of citizenship is brought to life. Visitors experience how Gouda has changed over the centuries, just as the function of the town hall has continually evolved. The building’s museum-like character is enhanced by the reconstruction of the old courtroom (vierschaar) and the spotlighting of the unique^17th-centurytapestries. In addition to tourists, schools and community organizations also have a space here to engage with young people and adults in conversations about democracy, sustainability, and living together.

Meet

The civic hall and other spaces in City Hall will be transformed into an accessible gathering place. Food and beverage services, co-working spaces, and event rentals will provide opportunities for residents, entrepreneurs, organizations, and community initiatives. The city hall connects the historic center with the surrounding neighborhoods and invites residents from all parts of the city to come together. In this way, the building becomes a catalyst for collaboration and community spirit, in line with Gouda’s ambition to be a livable and inclusive city.

Celebrate

City Hall remains the place for special occasions. Weddings, anniversaries, official receptions, and municipal ceremonies all take on a meaningful context here. The building’s historic character lends weight to these celebrations, while its new design provides space for contemporary forms of celebration and commemoration. In this way, City Hall becomes the premier venue where residents express their connection to one another and to the city.

To make this a reality, the Gouda City Hall Foundation was established, which is responsible for operations and programming. The foundation has a Supervisory Board and an executive director, who oversees day-to-day management. The opening of the renovated city hall is scheduled for summer 2027.

The position

As Executive Director, you will lead the Stadhuis Gouda Foundation under the supervision of the Supervisory Board. You will be responsible for the day-to-day operations, management, and further development and implementation of the “unique coexistence” concept. You will build the organization toward 2027 and develop the city hall into an inspiring and financially sound meeting place for residents, visitors, and partners.

Key priorities for the coming years

• Leading the preparatory phase leading up to the reopening in 2027, including the design and positioning of City Hall.
• Bringing the "inspire – meet – celebrate" concept to life and translating it into concrete programs, interior design, exhibitions, user functions, and operations.
• Developing and implementing a sustainable and future-proof business model, including financial and organizational structures.
• Developing an appealing hospitality concept and designing co-working and event space rental options that complement the building
• Building a broad network of partners in the fields of culture, heritage, education, business, and urban life.
• Creating a welcoming, inclusive, and safe organizational culture that fosters a sense of community in the city.

Who are you?

• Someone with a healthy dose of cultural entrepreneurship and business expertise, as well as a passion for cultural and social issues;
• Strong organizational, managerial, and problem-solving skills, with experience coordinating various cultural and commercial roles within a single organization, preferably in the context of cultural heritage;
• Specific knowledge and experience with:
  • the development, implementation, and monitoring of a (new) concept, preferably in the context of cultural heritage;
  • making substantive and business-related agreements with employees and partner organizations, including formalizing these agreements in contracts;
  • relevant financial matters, including budget preparation, and preferably experience with collective bargaining agreements and VAT regulations;
• Inclusive leadership, with an eye for the complementary contributions of employees and partners, and the conviction that diversity in programming, audiences, staff, and partners contributes to success.
• A hospitality mindset (welcoming, inclusive, and approachable) with an affinity for culture, cultural heritage, history, community building/education, and business.

What does the Gouda City Hall Foundation offer?

• The opportunity to lead the redevelopment of one of the Netherlands’ most iconic landmarks as a project manager and director.
• A key role in developing a new cultural and social concept for the city of Gouda.
• A dynamic workplace with high visibility in the city and region, collaboration with committed partners, and a Board of Trustees.
• Terms of employment in accordance with Scale 12 or 13 of the Municipal Collective Bargaining Agreement. We offer a one-year contract, with the possibility of permanent employment.
• Start date: as soon as possible, but no later than February 1, 2026; position is for 0.8 FTE.

Interested?

The organization is being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information about this position, please call Winfred Voordendag, senior partner at Colourful People, at 06-28284706.

To express your interest, please submit your cover letter and resume via the Colourful People website byFriday, November 14, at the latest. Interviews will be held onThursday, November 27, and Friday, December 5

The Stadhuis Gouda Foundation strives to be an inclusive and diverse organization, and in this search as well, we want to listen to other voices:audite et alteram partem. The Supervisory Board encourages anyone who recognizes themselves in this profile to apply, regardless of gender, age, or cultural background.